Russian ambassador says the standoff should be resolved through negotiations
24.06.2015,
18:03
Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, Ivan Volynkin, said today the ongoing standoff between demonstrators protesting in central Yerevan the planned rise in electricity price and the riot police should be resolved exclusively by the use of all available legal means and there can be no other options.
YEREVAN, June 24. / ARKA /. Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, Ivan Volynkin, said today the ongoing standoff between demonstrators protesting in central Yerevan the planned rise in electricity price and the riot police should be resolved exclusively by the use of all available legal means and there can be no other options.
"The tension should be eased only through negotiations, which are instrumental in finding an exit of the standoff. Unfortunately, protesters have rejected offers to meet with the Armenian president, choosing to continue their mass sit-in. Russia wants Armenia to be a stable country with no conflicts," said the ambassador.
The protest began as a peaceful rally with thousands of mostly young people flooding Monday the streets of the city center, chanting “No to robbery!” The demonstrators marched then towards the presidential residence to demand that he revoke the decision of the Public Services Regulatory Commission raising the price of electricity by 16 percent from August 1, but were blocked by riot police.
After the crowd refused to disperse, police used a water canon and eventually detained 237 demonstrators. Soon all were released. Armenia’s health ministry said 25 people, including 11 police, were treated for injuries following clashes.
The protest renewed on Tuesday with opposition politicians and some popular actors joining the rally. On Tuesday evening the demonstrators made their second attempt to march toward the presidential residence, but were stopped by riot police again. Some of them spent the night on central Baghramyan Avenue leading to the presidential residence.
Today police refrained from another violent crackdown on demonstrators, who have been blocking the avenue for the third day running. -0-
"The tension should be eased only through negotiations, which are instrumental in finding an exit of the standoff. Unfortunately, protesters have rejected offers to meet with the Armenian president, choosing to continue their mass sit-in. Russia wants Armenia to be a stable country with no conflicts," said the ambassador.
The protest began as a peaceful rally with thousands of mostly young people flooding Monday the streets of the city center, chanting “No to robbery!” The demonstrators marched then towards the presidential residence to demand that he revoke the decision of the Public Services Regulatory Commission raising the price of electricity by 16 percent from August 1, but were blocked by riot police.
After the crowd refused to disperse, police used a water canon and eventually detained 237 demonstrators. Soon all were released. Armenia’s health ministry said 25 people, including 11 police, were treated for injuries following clashes.
The protest renewed on Tuesday with opposition politicians and some popular actors joining the rally. On Tuesday evening the demonstrators made their second attempt to march toward the presidential residence, but were stopped by riot police again. Some of them spent the night on central Baghramyan Avenue leading to the presidential residence.
Today police refrained from another violent crackdown on demonstrators, who have been blocking the avenue for the third day running. -0-
